• Home
  • About
  • Tutorials
  • Recipes
  • Furniture
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Infertility
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

  • Home
  • About
  • Tutorials
  • Recipes
  • Furniture
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Infertility
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • Shop

Banquette L-Shaped Bench Tutorial – with free building plans!

October 13, 2022 by Bethany Sy

Our very best friends moved away to Tennessee, but we still find reasons to visit (and be visited by them) several times a year. So when Katie invited me to come help her build some banquette seating in her dining room, I immediately started plotting to make this happen. It’s such a perfect spot for an L-shaped banquette bench!

*This post is sponsored by our friends at National Hardware! Thank you for supporting the fabulous brands that make Reality Daydream possible!*

She’s gonna kill me for posting that pic, because we were texting about this and she got OUT OF BED to take a pic and measurements for me. So this is neither styled, nor high-res, but you get the picture (PUN!), right?

Katie showed me this dreamy inspiration pic from Southern Surroundings, and Nick and I started plotting out how we were going to pull this off! Isn’t it beautiful?!

We are delighted to share that National Hardware is partnering with us for this project, and we will be featuring their continuous hinges so this L-shaped banquette bench is even more functional than just seating… it also will provide SO MUCH STORAGE!

But first, Nick made these very detailed building plans so you can make these too! You can print them for free. All we ask is that you send us pics when you’re done! 🙂

L-Shaped Banquette Seating Bench

Supplies

  • Banquette Bench Building Plans
  • (7) 1x8x10 board
  • (2) 1/4x4x8 plywood
  • (2) 3/4x4x8
  • (5) National Hardware continuous hinge
  • Trim screws
  • Brad nails

Tools

  • Table saw/Track saw
  • Miter saw
  • Router
  • Wood glue
  • Pin nailer
  • impact driver
  • brad nailer

After gathering our lumber and supplies, we started out by cutting down all the wood, and labeling each piece with a pencil. The cut list on the plans makes this simple!

Using a tongue and groove router bit we routed all the rails and stiles.

We assembled the backs first, gluing the stiles in place, then adding the panels and top rail. Clamp, check for square, and set off the the side. We repeated this process for the backs, fronts and sides of the base.

I just picked up these clamps, and I really like them.

We used a small L-square the make sure all the rails where square. This one required a small tap of a mallet to correct it.

There is a lot of sanding involved so it is a great time to recruit some help.

We dry fit the assembly to make sure everything fit and marked out the location for the bottom shelf and bracing.

We installed the long bracing before assembling the bench. The short braces were attached by driving a trim screw through the front and back of the assembly.

We then added the bottom and screwed it in place. Spacing out the dividers so they are centered on the stiles.

While this isn’t on the blueprints, we decided to add a piece of 3/4 x 3/4″ pine around the dividers, then glued and nailed them in place with a pin nailer. We chamfered the edge to the trim and added it to align with the top of the dividers.

This should help provide more surface area for the seats to rest.

For the bench seats, we made a decision to wrap them in solid wood. Our thought here was that we didn’t want to leave the plywood edge exposed. We did the front and sides, however, in hindsight we would have added wood to the hinge side also.

We then chamfered the seat fronts

We filled all the holes with wood putty, sanded, primed and painted! And now we’re ready to get the hinges on! Are you excited?!

These hinges are so high quality, and come in TONS of sizes. And even if they don’t have the exact length you need, they can be cut to size easily! We chose the nickel finish for this project, but they also have brass option!

Installing these was so gratifying! We’re on the homestretch!

We drilled a pilot hole first, then just screwed them all into place!

Before assembling the two pieces of the “L-shape” together, we’re going to load these up and drive them to our friends in Tennessee! We woke the kiddos early, and set out before the sunrise.

I cannot even convey how beautiful the drive was. If I need to drive 10 hours, let it be in October!

Nick and Mr. Andrew got busy cutting holes for outlets, installing the seat backs to the wall, affixing everything together, trimming, caulking, filling, and touching up the paint.

We put the table and chairs back in place, and I snapped some pics of this area… ready to make lots of memories! Think of all the family meals, game nights, and homeschool days that will be spent on this banquette bench!

Doesn’t it look like it was always meant to be there?!

I can’t wait to see what Katie loads up all that storage with! What would you put in yours? Kitchen linens? Seasonal dishes? Infrequently-used small appliances? Board games? The possibilities are endless!

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will consider building some L-shaped banquette seating for yourself and your family… using our free building plans! If you do, be sure to tag us in pics on social media! We’re @RealityDaydream on both Instagram and Facebook.

And head on over to National Hardware and see what other fabulous, high-quality products they have!

~Bethany

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for pinning!

Related:

  • Wooden Centerpiece Tray Tutorial

    I have a fun and easy building project for you! And while I do end…

  • DIY Fabric-Covered Bulletin Tutorial

    My kids are getting to the age where they want to tape pictures, cards, notes...…

  • Test Tube Propagation Station Tutorial

    I've been needing to figure out a solution for my overwhelming plant propagation situation for…

About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« Wooden Centerpiece Tray Tutorial
Squashing Kids’ Nighttime Fears »

Comments

  1. 8

    . Best regards, Annette Gustavson/lilypadlady says

    October 14, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    Bethany, how beautiful and inspiring. I wish I had the room to make something like this but I’m going to pass it along to a very good friend of mine. I love how you show us other things that we can make ourselves. Thanks for sharing all the steps and where you got your supplies. Best regards, Annette Gustavson/lilypadlady

    Reply
  2. 9

    Katie says

    October 14, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    It’s the best — I love it (and you guys) so much!! We’re loading that amazing bench seat storage with school supplies, shoes, extra kitchen stuff that’s only occasionally used, and I think we’ll take some notes from the comments and dedicate one secrion of it to family games!

    Reply
  3. 10

    Nancy says

    October 14, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Wow it looks amazing!! Your friends must be so happy!! You guys are so talented!!

    Reply
  4. 11

    Amanda L says

    October 14, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    Great job! This is beautiful!
    Love how you never “cut the corners” and include the family!

    Reply
  5. 12

    Pam says

    October 14, 2022 at 11:19 am

    Looks great!

    Reply
  6. 13

    Kirsten J says

    October 14, 2022 at 12:43 am

    Amazing custom wood work-
    And I know how much work that was. It is awesome!!

    Reply
  7. 14

    Elizabeth Gibson says

    October 14, 2022 at 12:14 am

    It looks amazing!! Where were you 6 years ago when we desperately needed something like this? Haha. Huge admirerer!

    Reply
  8. 15

    Janice says

    October 13, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    Omg came great …. Love it so much better than just the table and chairs…. Your husband and you are amazing. What you take and also for other people while have so much to do on your own love you

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube
We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!

realitydaydream

I’m so happy that Instagram is letting us post p I’m so happy that Instagram is letting us post pictures again! Alllll the videos in my feed give me a little overstimulation. 

Are you going to try out this Propagation Tower I shared in Stories? I saved it all to a highlight if you need it! 🌿

#plantmama #plantsofig #plantsofinstagram #plantperson #propgation #plantsarelife #houseplants #houseplantclub #houseplantsofinstagram #plantlover #plants
SHARE with a plant-loving friend! 🌿 I love exp SHARE with a plant-loving friend! 🌿

I love experimenting with different propagation methods. And it’s also fun to use non-terrariums as terrariums!! This plant propagation tower makes me so happy, and I can’t wait to watch these little babies grow up! 🌿

The clear propagation tower is in my Amazon Storefront… linked in profile!!

#propagationstation #plntpropagation #plantlover #plantmama #plantlady #plantsofig #plantsofinstagram #plantsarelife #plants #houseplants
SAVE this video for future inspiration! Detailed t SAVE this video for future inspiration! Detailed tutorial (+video) at RealityDaydream.com. Just type in the search bar “rainbow planter”! 🌈

#plantstyling #plantsofig #plantlady #plantroom #plantsathome #plantsofinstagram #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantparent #plantpeople #plantdiy #plantlove
I spared you what was IN the toilet. 🚽 I spared you what was IN the toilet. 🚽
Load More Follow on Instagram
View of our entryway of our historic mansion that we're slowly renovating and making our own.
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
Please feel free to share or pin my posts! You're welcome to use ONE of my images (no collages or pinnables) with a link back to the corresponding post. Please do not edit or crop that single image in any way. Improper use of my photos, ideas or words is a violation of copyright. Thank you!

Categories

Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Blogger Pro On Genesis Framework · Customizations by Sweet Theory Designs · Privacy Policy · Log in